Wednesday this week was set to be Day Two of the National Netball Championships in Hobart, and for the 19U NSW team it would have been a rematch of the 2019 Grand Final against South Australia.
It was a team featuring many members of the QBE Swifts Academy.
The 19U team is not taking the court this year because of COVID cancellations, however Netball NSW would like to honour and acknowledge the talents and achievements of the 2021 squad.
Team Captain Natalie Sligar (Sutherland Stingrays/Giants Academy) is a leader on and off the court and the committed, competitive GA/WA was excited to lead her incredibly strong and determined team into a National Championship.
Sligar commented: “We are a very proud side who have drawn inspiration from the legacy of past Netball NSW State Teams.
"We had a strong focus on the strengths of each individual and collectively hoped to bring home gold.”
Despite not having the opportunity to captain at Nationals, Sligar's humble and inspiring leadership helped create a true 19U family.
She would have been supported by a leadership group including Courtney Castle (GWS Fury/Swifts Academy), a dynamic midcourter who was set to come out firing at her first Nationals after missing 2020 because of the first COVID cancellation.
Gifted defender Brooke Paterson (UTS Randwick Sparks/Swifts Academy), whose instinct leads to intercepts out of nowhere, and the sensational Amy Sligar (UTS Randwick Sparks/Giants Academy) - a midcourter who juggled her Nationals campaign with court time for the Giants in Super Netball - were also set to lead.
The depth of the 19U team was unparalleled.
In the midcourt the tenacious Chelsea Mann (GWS Fury/Swifts Academy) was on fire and Audrey Little (Manly Warringah Sapphires/Swifts Academy), who is a smart and athletic WA, continued to play with a netball IQ beyond her years.
The shooting circle had three exciting bottom-age athletes. Sophie Fawns (Panthers/Swifts Academy) has continued to grow as a player since selectors first noticed the Wagga Wagga junior at the Regional Academy Games three years ago.
Millie Roach (North Shore United/Giants Academy) is cool as a cucumber and a pin-point accurate shooter, and Kiara Bloor (Sutherland Stingrays) has speed to burn and netball smarts to match.
The defensive end, excitingly for the future of Netball in NSW, also had three bottom-age athletes.
Jamie Podmore Taylor (North Shore United/Giants Academy) epitomised determination and showed great versatility swinging from GD to WD.
Erin O’Brien (North Shore United/Giants Academy) showed she has a big future in both GD and GK, consistently getting ball back for her team in practice matches and working well with her former 17U NSW teammate Charli Fidler (Manly Warringah Sapphires/Giants Academy) who is also a strong, powerful athlete with a hunger for an intercept.
The 19U NSW family was held together and challenged to become better athletes and people at every session by an amazing Coaching and Support team.
Head Coach Jen Wright is someone who prides herself on an athlete-centred approach. Each session Wright gave the athletes a platform to listen to one another and to share.
She was supported with the expertise and care of Assistant Coach Alison Tucker Munro and Apprentice Coach Virginia Welsh.
Super Manager Nikki Welsford ensured there was calm and organisation behind the scenes and the physio team of Alice Brown and Andrea Bishop went above and beyond to monitor and treat the athletes.
The team was supported in PA by Isabelle Einspinner and week after week Sharon Kelly (and the umpire crew) ensured that opportunities to learn about the rules of the game were maximised in match play.
Throughout their time together the 19U team focused on themes such as reflection, responsibility and empathy and, alongside the growth in skill, they shaped a unique identity and a belief that they could win.
The team were relentless in their pursuit of excellence and although they did not have the chance to unleash their talents at Nationals, their Waratah pride and efforts to do everything in their power to play will be remembered.
Netball NSW acknowledges and honours the 2021 19U State Team. They are champions to all of us.
